Cognitive Therapy for Depression

Abstract

We provide an overview of cognitive therapy (CT) of depression, including its treatment procedures, therapeutic effects, and mechanisms of change, as well as its effectiveness and dissemination. CT is a well-established treatment with acute effects on par with those of medication. Unlike medication, CT appears to have effects that endure after treatment ends. Although definitively establishing CT’s mechanism of action is difficult, the available evidence is consistent with the possibility that CT achieves its effects partly through cognitive change. Despite potential challenges in generalizing research findings on CT into clinical practice, initial evidence of the effectiveness of CT has been promising. Finally, we discuss efforts to disseminate CT, along with our thoughts on future research directions.